What would you do (food issues)?

[Allison]

We've had our awesome golden doodle puppy Elbie for 2.5 weeks now.  The breeder had her on Life's Abundance but as that is only available online, we wanted to switch her to something we could get at our local pet store.  We started her on Nutro Ultra puppy food because the first few ingredients were similar to Life's Abundance and the Nutro Ultra was rated 4 out of 5 stars on dog food advisor.  We switched her gradually but probably not gradually enough because we ran out of the food the breeder sent us home with pretty quickly.  

Elbie has had diarrhea on and off since we brought her home (pudding consistency, not watery or bloody).  She has been active, eating well, and drinking lots of water but the diarrhea was frustrating, especially since she was going many times at night.

Yesterday we fed her the Nutro in the morning but only gave her plain white rice for the rest of the day.  She slept through the night without waking to go to the bathroom, and this morning she had her first normal bowel movement!

So should I assume that the food is the culprit and try something different?  If so, should I introduce the new food gradually or switch completely now?  Any suggestions on what we should try if you think we should switch?

She has an appointment with the vet tomorrow so I will ask her, but wanted to get some opinions from fellow doodle lovers.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Allison, your puppy most likely has giardia, it's very very common in young doodle puppies.  The vet visit is important. If it is giardia, make sure they give you Panacur and not just metronidazole. Until you get the giardia under control, nothing you do with kibble is going to make a difference. Make sure you bring in several different samples for testing, as the giardia cysts are not always present in every part of the stool and it can be tough to diagnose.

We have a very large and active Food Group here on DK; please join us. We have a list of recommended food brands, tips for switching foods, feeding puppies, dealing with sensitive tummies, and thousands of discussions on just about every topic related to feeding a dog there is. Neither of the foods you mentioned is on our recommended list. However, again, if she has a parasitic infection, no commercial food will make a difference. For now, I'd give her a mixture of boiled white meat chicken and plain white rice, 2 parts rice to one part chicken. You can add a spoonful of plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) to help firm up the stools. 

[Angela Maynard]

I agree with Karen.  My doodle has had loose stools for 3 1/2 weeks.  Sometimes it would be watery, sometimes kind of runny, sometimes mushy and this morning it was firm.  I was thinking it was his food so I have since slowly transitioned him to another food and I've been using pumpkin to try to firm it up.  Since it wasn't getting better, I decided to call the vet and have his stools checked for parasites. I took it in yesterday morning and they sent it off to another lab and I got the call this morning saying it is Ghiarda and he has had it for a while as there we lots of them in his poop.  Poor guy!  So I say don't wait.  Take him in and get the stools checked. :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

For any puppy with giardia, it's essential that you disinfect every location where the puppy has pooped. Plain cleaners won't do it, you need bleach, even outside. Giarida is very very resistant and the cysts can survive outside through a hard winter. Make sure you use rubber gloves when cleaning up, because giardia is zoonotic. Wash the puppy's bedding and use wipes on her bottom after she goes.

Don't allow her outdoors unsupervised, and make sure she doesn't have access to standing water outside, including puddles. I once caught a foster drinking rainwater from the concave seat of one of those molded plastic patio chairs.

[Angela Maynard]

Thanks Karen.  Should I just spray the mulch with clorox diluted with water?  Or just pure clorox?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

One part bleach to 9 parts water is the formula I was given. You can use one of those spray bottles that attaches to a hose. And unfortunately, even diluted, it will kill the grass. ;-(

[Angela Maynard]

Thanks Karen.  Fortunately he only uses the potty in the mulch.  So at least I won't kill the grass :)

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Excellent!

[Allison]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I will try and get a few stool samples and bring them with us tomorrow morning.  The receptionist told me they would try to get one while she's there as well.

I'll keep her on rice and chicken for the rest of the day.  I want to switch her to a recommended food from the food group for sure. Thanks again!

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Also, be sure to read the discussion on how to say NO to the vet when they recommend RX foods they sell. You will do much better with your own chic and rice. Be educated before going in for the visit so you can politely decline and not let them make you feel guilty or that they have the magic food for helping her poops.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good point, Sue. I meant to include something about the RX crap food, but forgot.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

My advice is to take Karen & Jackdoodle's advice, you won't get better.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Aw, thanks, Nicky.